The Multifaceted World of Voice Acting

Most people, when asked to think about voice acting, conjure up images of animated characters, video games, commercials, or audiobooks. Yet, the creative world of a voice actor extends far beyond just performing lines in a recording booth.

Many voice actors engage in a variety of activities adjacent to voice-over that enrich their craft and contribute to the industry in other meaningful ways.

From casting, coaching, and engagement with fans to teaching voice-over techniques, the profession offers a broad spectrum of creative endeavors that shape both the artist and the field. This multifaceted voice artist has become part of what is known as The Full Stack Creatives.

Casting and Auditioning: The Gateway to Opportunity

One of the most critical parts of a voice actor’s career is the casting process. Voice actors often spend significant time preparing for auditions, researching the project, and tailoring their delivery to fit the character or brand.

It’s no surprise then that some voice actors become casting professionals themselves. They use their experience to find the right voices for projects, helping producers and directors match talent with roles. This dual role deepens their understanding of the industry and sharpens their ear for unique vocal qualities. It can also provide rich opportunities for their own careers, as many times they cast in the very work that they are casting. It’s quite common that a client will trust you to ask for a referral for projects that don’t fit your talents. I keep a curated list of British Female Talent for example as well as having helped with casting on various projects.

Some voice actors go beyond freelance casting and create casting sites and directories. Maria Pendolino's Blue Wave Voiceover is one such endeavor. It specializes in democratic politics, advocacy groups and nonprofits. She also helped to created the Disabled Voice Actors Directory & a bespoke voiceover genre called Millennial Voiceover.

Teaching Voiceover: Sharing Skills and Building Community

Many experienced voice actors find teaching to be a rewarding extension of their work. Voiceover coaching involves guiding newcomers through the technical and artistic aspects of the craft.

Teaching also helps voice actors stay connected to the evolving trends in the industry.

Workshops and online courses create a sense of community among voice actors. Sharing experiences and challenges fosters growth and encourages collaboration. Some teachers even develop specialized programs for niche markets like audiobook narration or video game voice acting. I myself have specialized in both video games for voice actors and the business side of voice acting having taught locally and at larger voiceover conferences, like the One Voice Conference and VO Atlanta.

Writing and Creating Original Content

Some voice actors channel their creativity into writing scripts, producing podcasts, or creating web series. This allows them to craft stories that showcase their vocal talents and explore themes they care about.

Creating original content also offers control over the creative process, from concept to final product. For example, a voice actor might write and perform a one-person audio drama, blending narration and character voices. This kind of project can attract new audiences and open doors to collaboration with other artists. They not only create work but can spin out to social media campaigns. Allowing yet another way to showcase not only the acting side of the business but also help out in other creative outlets.

Demo production and the Multi-faceted World of Voice Acting

Beyond performing and teaching, some voice actors develop the skills necessary to produce and direct demos for fellow talent. I recently taught a voiceover class and then wrote and directed demo scripts afterward with a professional audio engineer. It was a rewarding challenge that provided the voiceover students a little extra to help get their careers off the ground and keep the momentum going.

Some voice actors also started out as audio engineers or have a flair for the technical side of the business so they take on extra roles of long form audio editing and producing audio.

For a change of pace and scenery (the booth's grey walls don’t provide a sweeping landscape to enjoy), some voice actors also book on-screen work as an extra, featured extra, or main cast. There is not a ton of work for a Brit in the southern US, but I’ve booked a few, and it's a great way to get out of the studio while still working. You get experience in a different sort of acting, which also helps develop script interpretation and performance, and it can provide networking opportunities as there are industry players you might never otherwise be exposed to.

Certain genres like Gaming, Animation, and Anime come to mind that lead to the opportunities to attend fan conventions. Not only do these give you the chance to give back to the community that supports the projects you are in, but they can also give you the chance to travel, network with other talent, and benefit financially from signing or photo events plus they can really be a lot of fun.

As our careers grow and expand, the multifaceted world of voice acting can also include awards judge, awards presenter, and sponsor. All adding to improve, complement, and coexist with voice acting. This creative diversity will likely make you a better actor and help you grow your career further. And of course, there is the added advantage to stepping outside of the booth and mixing things up a bit!

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COMMERCIALS  • GAMING CHARACTERS  • ANIMATION  • PROMO & TRAILERS • NARRATION  •  AUDIOBOOKS  •  REAL ESTATE  •  CORPORATE NARRATION  •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS  • ELEARNING

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Ian Russell is a British Voiceover Artist specializing in commercial voice over, narration, video game, character voices, animation and more. He is a frequent guest speaker on conference panels and podcasts, sharing knowledge about voice over. Read More >>